2025 Fire Prevention Week: be cautious when using lithium-ion batteries at home
Public Service Announcement
Lithium-ion batteries are found everywhere throughout our homes and can create significant fire threats if caution isn’t taken when using and charging them. As we enter Fire Prevention Week (October 5 – 11) the Kelowna Fire Department (KFD) is once again teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to promote a brand new theme: “Charging into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home.”
“Lithium-ion batteries are found in many common household devices and can cause serious threat of over-heating and catching fire if mis-handled,” says Paul Johnson, Fire Prevention Officer with the Kelowna Fire Department. “These batteries are commonly used in our daily lives, in items such as cellphones, laptops gaming devices and larger devices such as e-bikes and scooters. Taking a little extra care when buying, charging and recycling these batteries can help prevent unnecessary fire risk to both your home and family.
Here are some key safety tips for purchasing, charging and recycling lithium-ion batteries:
Buy safety lab approved products. When buying lithium-ion batteries, ensure you are purchasing from approved manufacturers and products that display a recognized lab certification mark, such as: Underwriter Laboratory (UL), Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC) and Intertek (ETL).
Charge with care. When charging large items with lithium batteries – such as power tools and e-bikes – ensure that you use a dry, flat area that is outside of direct sunlight and damp areas and does not block exit routes.
Avoid overheating hazards. When charging batteries, place them on hard, well-ventilated surfaces -- avoiding soft areas such as pillows and blankets -- and unplug them as soon as they are fully charged.
Don’t trash your batteries! Never throw lithium-ion batteries or devices in the garbage or in regular recycling bins where they can catch fire. Take them to a legitimate recycling depot – it’s better for the planet and for fire prevention!
Learn more about lithium-ion battery fire prevention at: kelowna.ca/fireprevention
